A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the ninth mission under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-9) contract to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) on 18 July 2016 at 12:45 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Dragon spacecraft carries almost 5,000 pounds of supplies, equipment, and science research along with the first of two International Docking Adapters (IDA), which will be used by future commercial and other international spacecraft visiting the ISS.

A long time exposure shows the arc of the launch at left followed by the landing of the first stage booster at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The disconnected streak at top is the entry burn to slow the booster while the final engine burn for landing is the short streak touching the ground at right. The gap between is where the booster falls Earthward slowing down to below the speed of sound.

The Falcon 9 climbs into the night sky, a momentary ring of vapor forming around the Dragon spacecraft as the rocket accelerates.

Nearing first stage separation.

A sequence of images shows first stage separation and resulting exhaust plumes while the second stage powers on to orbit with the Dragon spacecraft. The first stage is the smaller dot that shifts position to appear to be above the second stage in the final images.

Close-ups of the entry burn as the engines fire to slow the falling booster as it plummets faster than the speed of sound.

The booster engines fire for the landing burn. These images were taken moments before the landing gear deployed. Unfortunately, gear deployment and the successful landing was obscured by buildings.